Electric switch



Nov. 19, 1929. y F. w. GAY 1,736,528

Filed Deo. 8, 1927 mom/@rs Patented Nov. 19, 1929 "UNITED STATES PATENI OFFICE rnaz'nn w. GAY, ornnwm, NEW JERSEY nnnc'rmc swnrcn Application led December 8, 1927. lSerial 110.1238580.

This invention relates to a high voltage,"-

double break electric switch of the type which mcludes stationary contacts electrically conf nected and disconnected by a blade rotatable 6 about and lmovable in planes of yanaxis 4 10 -tion of said postby fixed 4stops on the sta-4 tionary contact supports, and move lthe post in the line of its axis by `rotating cam means' while rotation of the post is resisted bysa-id stops. disadvantages. The contacts and insulators posts or insulator stacks cannot be vmade 4 practically to eiiectually resist` such stresses, and accordingly the contacts are thrown 'out of alinement and high electrical resistancesare produced; a severe twisting stress or torque is imposed upon,the post o'rshaft supportingvthe blade;, and as a"re`lati`vely quick stop ofthe switch mechanism is--re- 25. quired when the switch reaches closed osition, extremely careful adjustment `o all parts must be made, failing whichfeither theswitch is not fully-closed or themotor operating the switch blade is overloaded 3 working against the fixed stops and the contact posts are strained and electrical re-l sistancejncreased.

The primary 'object of my invention-is to provide a novel and improved) high voltage switch which has none of said disadvantages of the known switches and which is sim le and inex ensive in construction and relia le and duralble in operation.

Anotherobject is to provide such` a switch 4 whereinthe contact posts'and the shaft of the switch blade are .subjected to stresses or strains in tension and compression" only, such stresses being those which said parts'are s inherentl most capable of withstanding.

the character described' embodyingnovel and improved 'features of construction whereby thel forces aptpliedto the stationary contacts n and the sha for the blade are in-the direc- Switches so constructed have several AA furt er object is to provide aswitch of manner.

parts, "whereby `distortion from cantilever andtorque strains is ensured.

l Other objects are to provide such a switch whereinv high' contact pressures are easily produced' so that the switch is especially well 55 suited for `use with high voltages; to provide a novel andv improved construction having ample latitude for overthrow or momen-- tum vof the parts "i'neitherl direction to prevent injury tothe switch, and to ensure that the'switch is ,fully closed .which .is important n 'i where auxiliaryfswitches areA used for in. 'dicating closure' 'ofthe main switch, andto obtainother'advantages and results as will Referring to t` e accompanying drawings, in which'l corresponding and klike parts are designated throughout the .severalviews by the 'same reference characters, y

Figure' 1 is aside elevati 11 of an electric 70 i' lswitch embodyingfniy invention, portions being brokenaway and shown in section to more clearly illustrate thedetails `of construction;

` Figure 2 isl a'fragment'ary partial'section '15` and partial side elevation of the operating' mechanism lforthe' switch, viewing the same from a point t ninety degrees (90) to that of Figure'l; x

Figure 3 is a fagmentary front elevation 80 .of i modified `form of operating mechanism,

an n t Figure 4 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Figure 3.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodimentbf the invention, the reference characterA. designates thebase of the swltch which may beof any suitable construction,

for example a channel viron as illustrated. Fixedly mounted u on said base at spaced points is. a pair o electrical insulators B which are secured ,to the base at one end by capscrews-C. Upon the other ends of the insulators are mounted contact plates D with which cooperate a laminated spring 95 conductor or switchv blade E which serves to electrically connect and disconnect the contact lates Du. The linewires may be connecteld tothe plates D 1n any suitable be brought out bly) the following description. 65 must resist forcesl in cantilever; the contact v ment in bearingsl lzo The conductor E is mounted upon a supporting' means which includes an insulator F and a shaft 1 fast connected to the insulator as by a pin 2.` The shaft 1 is rotatably journaled on the base A between the contactsl D, and is of course insulated from the conductor E by the insulator F. The bearing for the shaft 1 comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow casing 3 secured to the base at one side thereof, the shaft being rotatable in an opening `in said base and projecting beyond the base', as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. The said projecting end of the shaft is screw threaded as at 5 and has threaded thereon' for rotation a nut 6 Vwhich is rotatable but held against longitudinal mov@- formed in a housing 8. The periphery of the nut is in the form `of a worm wheel 9 with ywhich meshes a worm 10 mounted upon a shaft 11 jounaled in bearings 12 within the casing 8, and projecting beyondthe casing as shown in Figure 2 of" the drawings. The projecting end ofthe shaft is adapted to be connected by a suitable shaft coupling 13 to a reversible electric motor or other suitable means for rotating the shaft 11 alternately in opposite directions.

With this construction it will be observed that rotation'of the nut 6 alternately in opposite directions-Will cause linear movement of the shaft 1, insulator F and conductor E to actuate the conductor toward and away from the contact plates D. It is necessary to also rotate the supporting means for the conductor E to swin the conductor ina plane at right angles tog the plane of linear movement of the conductor to move the conductor toward and from .the contact plates D and provide a large gap when theswitch is opened. 'To this end the' hollow casing 3 .is

formed inopposite sides with slots 14 in which are slidable the ends of a pin 15 projecting radially laterally from the shaft 1. The slots 14 include end or terminal portions 16 which are substantially in axial planes of the shaft 1, and intermediate helical portions 17 coaxial with the said shaft. Preferably the slots open through one end of the casing 3 to permit a pin 15 to be inserted therein. VVith1 this construction it will be observed that upon the beginning of linear movement of the shaft in either direction, the` pin 15 moves through one or the other of the terminal portions 16 of the slots-17 so that the conductoi- E is moved in an axial plane of the v shaft toward or from the conductor plates D.

This makes or breaks engagement of the conductor with the conductor plates, and thereupon further linear movement of the shaft 1 cooperates through" the pins 15 with the helical portions 17 of the slots 14 so as to rotate the conductor E in a plane at right angles Lto the plane of linear movement toward or from the conductor' plates. Obviously the terminal portions 16p of the slots 17 limit this rotative motion of the conductor E. The terminal portions 16 of the slots 14 are so rein normal open or closed position, that further linear movement of the shaft in either lated to the pin 15 when the conductor E is direction is permissible after the normal position of the conductor is reached. This compensates for any possible overthrow or momentum of the driving mechanism, which without such latitude of movement in the shaft 1 would be overloaded and cause undue strains throughout the operating mechanism.

sulators Bare subjected only to compression strains, while the supporting means for the conductor E is subjected only` `to tensional strains. Also, large contact pressure between the ends of the conductor E and the contact plates D'may be A'obtained due to the ositive and strong drive for lnoving the sha 1 longitudinally; and the latitude for overthrow of the shaftl atthe ends of its 'linear move- Jments ensures that the switch. will -begfullyV closed, which is afvery important function where auxiliary switches are used for indi- 1 eating closure of the main' switch, it being necessary that such auxiliary switches do not indicate closure until the main switch is positively closed.

' A modified form of the invention is. shownin Figures 3 and 4 in which a toggle mechanism-is substituted for the nut 6 and threaded portion 5 of the shaft 1. The toggle includes two pivotally connected links 18 and v '19 one of'which is pivoted to the base A as `at 20, and the other of which is pivotally connected to a block 21 swivel-connected as at 22 tothe end of the shaft 1. The toggle links are oscillated by a draw-bar 23 so as to extend 'and contract toggle and thereby reciprocate the shaft 1. Rotation of the shaft is accomplished by the same means as that shown in- Figures 1 and 2.

While I have shown and described the inventionv as embodied in certain details of construction, it willbe understood that this v is primarily for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention and that many modifications and changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from thespirit and scopeof the invention. Therefore, I do not desire to be understood as limiting myselfexcept as required bythe following claims when construed in the light of the prior art. .Y l Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: y

f1'. An electric switch comprising a pair of insulated fixed contacts, a conductor to coductor toward and from said contacts in a' plane at right angles to the plane of the firstmentioned movement, means for actuating said conductor supporting means through said linear movements, and cam means cooperating with said supporting means during said linear movement of the latter in both directions to rotate said-supporting means alternately in opposite directions simultaneously with said linear movement.

2. An electric switch comprising na pair of insulated fixed contacts, a conductor to coop'- erate therewith to electrically connect and disconnect said contacts, means between said contacts supporting said conductor and linearly movable in opposite directions to actuate said conductor into and out of engagement with said contacts, said supporting means also being rotatable to move said conductor toward and from said contacts in a plane at right anglesl to the lane of the firstporting means throng said linear movement,

mentioned movement, a riving element, means positively connected to sa1d driving element for actuatin said conductor supand cam means cooperating with said supporting means during said inear movement of the latterin both directionsto rotate said supporting means alternately in opposite directions simultaneouslyA with said linear novement'.

3. An electric switch comprising a pair of insulated fixed contacts, a conductor to -cooperate therewith to electrically connect and disconnect said contacts, means between said vcontacts supporting said conductor and linearly movable in opposite directions to actuate said conductor intoand out of engagement with said contacts, said supporting means also being rotatable to move said conv ductor toward and from said contacts in a plane at right angles to the plane of the firstmentioned movement, means for' actuatin said lconductor supporting means throng said linear movements, and stationarycam means enga d by said supporting means during said inear movement in both directions to rotate said supporting means simultaneously with said linear movement.

4. An electric switch comprisinga pair of insulated fixed contacts, a conductor to cooperate therewith to electrically connect and disconnect said contacts, meansbetween said contacts supportingf'said conductor and linearly movable in oppsitedirections to actu-.- ate said conductor into,A andkout of engagementwith said contactsysaid supporting means also being rotatable tomove said conductor toward and from said contacts in a plane at right angles to the plane ofthe firstmentioned movement, said supporting means having a screw threaded portion, a nut threaded on said screw threaded portion and rotatably but longitudinally ixedly mounted, means for rotating said nutto linearly move said supportingy means alternately in opposite directions, and stationary cam means engaged by said supporting meansduring the linear movement thereof in bothl directions to rotate said supporting means simultaneously with said linear movement.

5. An electric switch comprising a pair of insulated fixed contacts, a conductor to cooperate therewith to electrically connect and disconnect said contacts, means between said contacts supporting said conductor and linearly movable to actuate said 'conductor into and out of' engagement with said contacts, said supporting means also being rotatable to vmove said conductor toward and from said contacts in a plane at right angles to the plane of the first-mentioned movement, said supporting means having a lateral projection,-

means for linearly moving said supporting means, and means'having a helical recess coaxial with said supporting means and receiving said lateral projection, whereby said supporting means is rotated during said linear movement thereof.

6. An electric ,switch comprising a pair of insulated fixed contacts, a conductor to cooperate-therewith to electrically connect and disconnect saidcontacts, means between said contacts supporting said conductor and linearly movable in opposite directions to actuate said conductor into and out of engagement with said contacts, said supporting means also being rotatable to movesaid conductor toward and from said contacts in a plane at right angles to the plane of the firstmentioned movement, means for actuating saidconductor. supporting means through said linear movement, and cam means copperating with said supporting means during said linear movement of the latter in both directions to rotate said supporting means alternately in opposite directions, said cam means being arranged to sta-rt and stop rotation of said supporting means after the beginning and before the ending of said 11near movement respectively.

7. An electric switch comprising a pair of insulated fixed contacts, a conductor to co-kv operate therewith to electricallyoconnect and disconnect said contacts, means between said contacts su porting said conductor and linearly mova le to actuate said conductor into said supporting means, is `rotated and out of engagement with said contacts, 'said supporting means also being rotatable to move said conductor toward and from said contacts in a plane aty right angles to the plane of the first-mentioned movement, said supporting means having a lateral projection,

means for linearly moving said supporting l means, and means having'a recess receiving said lateral projection and havin an intermediate helical'po'rtion coaxial wit said sup? porting means and strai ht terminalpvportons in planes of the axis o rotation'whereby intermediate portion of its linear movement. 8. A n electric switch comprising a pair of insulated fixed contacts, a conductor torcooperate therewith to electrically connect and disconnect said contacts, means-between said f contacts supporting said conductor andl linearly mova ate said conductor into and out of engagement with saidf contacts, said ,supportlng means also being rotatable to move said conductor toward and from said contacts in a plane at right angles tothe plane of the firstmentioned movement, means for linearly moving said supporting means, and means vcooperating with said supporting means at an intermediate portion o its linear movement to rotate said supporting means.

FRAZER W. GAY.

uring an le in opposite directions to actu- 

